Begley targets opening win for Ireland

Laois footballer Colm Begley is hopeful that Ireland can account for Australia in the first of their 2010 International Rules Tests at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.

Begley is the lone Laois man in Anthony Tohill's 23-man squad for the opening game of the Series.

He is glad to be taking part after his club Stradbally crashed out of the Laois Club Championship to eventual winners Portlaoise.

"Prolonging the year being a part of something like this is very special," he admitted. "Once you get to represent your country, it is an amazing experience and an honour.

"I have really enjoyed the training. It's keeping me fit and training with some of the best players in the country is always something that you are striving for as a player."

This will be the third International Rules Series the 24-year-old former Aussie Rules player has been involved in, and Begley believes that there is a good mixture of youth and experience in the current Irish squad.

"There are a lot of first-timers on the panel this time around, but they have great experience too with their counties and clubs.

"Also I have noticed over the last eight weeks or so the 'inexperienced' lads have learned an awful lot.

"There has been a really good intensity in training, and the lads who weren't picked they were really very close (to getting a call-up).

Begley has first hand experience of Ireland manager Tohill, as the Derry native was involved as a selector for the last few Series under then manager Sean Boylan.

Tohill was the right man to succeed the former Meath All-Ireland winning manager, according to Begley.

"Anthony works well having been a previous player in both codes, and being involved with the Ireland team for the last couple of Series as well.

"He works well with the players, having been a player himself, and he gets the best out of them overall.

"The selectors who have been brought in have really rowed in behind him and pushed the team forward."